Method and apparatus for preparing hair pieces such as chignons,falls and the like and articles produced thereby



Sept. 16, 1969 FR|SHMAN ET AL 3,467,110

METHOD AND A RATUS FOR PREPARING HAIR PIECES SUCH As CHIGNONS FALLS AND THE LIKE AND ARTICLES PRODUCED THEREBY Filed Feb. 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Daniel Frishmon 8 Q 26 Michael G.-Coruso FIG.5. wfimw mm, 2 HM ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1969 Filed Feb. 9, 1967 D. FRISHMAN ET L 3,467,110 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING HAIR PIECES SUCH AS CHIGNQNS FALLS AND THE LIKE AND ARTICLES PRODUCED THEREBY 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTORS Daniel Frishmon 8 Michael G.Coruso ATTORNEYS United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING HAIR PIECES SUCH AS CHIGNONS, FALLS AND THE LIKE AND ARTICLES PRODUCED TIIEREBY Daniel Frishman, Andover, and Michael G. Caruso, North Andover, Mass., assignors to Reid-Meredith, Inc., Lawrence, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 614,856 Int. Cl. A41g 3/00 US. Cl. 1325 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preparing hair pieces such as chignons, falls and the like and articles produced thereby in accordance with which fibers or bundles of fibers or monofilaments in tow form are cut into chignon lengths, opened and combed and while in an opened horizontal condition, they are clamped between two bevelled clamp members and shifted from a horizontal to a vertical position so that the bevelled edges of the clamps form a channel into which the bonding medium is introduced so that the filaments will be bonded together and to a tape on each side of the filaments and between the clamp members. The bonding medium may be an adhesive, glue or a solvent or swelling agent which is compatible with the particular specie of filament or fiber with which it is used.

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for preparing hair pieces such as chignons, falls and the like and articles produced thereby and has for an object to provide a method and apparatus for preparing a length of natural or synthetic hair material for use with the hair of the human head in the form of a chignon or fall in which said length of hair material of predetermined length, by way of example, 8 to 30 inches in length, is cut resembling a tow and which length must be secured at one end. Heretofore in the art, chignons' or the like have been prepared by placing a rubber band or tape about one end of the free ends of the chignon or fall, inverting the filaments over the restricted end, and again placing a rubber band and/or tape around the free end. This elaborate procedure is necessary in order to minimize loss of hair when the chignon is brushed. The bulk of the fibers is held in place by purely mechanical means and the inverting or folding provides a means for increasing the friction between the fibers so that they cannot slip past each other. The thick knob which is formed as a result of securing the filaments in this manner results in some difficulties and inconveniences with respect to handling and styling when used on a womans head. However, the present invention provides for taking a length of a plurality of filaments and separating them over a horizontal area, by way of example, a 10 inch width, and thereafter securing one of the sets of free ends so that they will be united in a common bond or attachment so that the chignon or fall may better conform to the head and permit ease of styling and provide a wide range of styling possibilities.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a means for uniting a plurality of filaments such as are found in a chignon by distributing the filaments in a horizontal plane and securing them to a tape or the like for preserving the distributed horizontal relationship of filaments which may be either conformed to the head of the human female in the way of either a chignon or fall.

ice

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a fall or chignon in which one of the ends of a plurality of filaments is distributed over a horizontal area and rigidly secured either to the filaments of the fall or a tape which may be rolled or formed to follow the head of the human female. In order to prepare the latter form of the invention, the loose filaments are distributed horizontally over a comb to preserve their horizontal displacency at which time the thus horizontally displaced filaments or fibers have a tape placed over and under the fibers to force the filaments against a primary support member. Thereafter a secondary member is placed over the primary member and the two are clamped together creating a pressure area over the entire portion of the two clamped members with respect to the filaments or fibers clamped therebetween. Each of the two clamping members are bevelled to form a channel therebetween. While the filaments are held between the clamping members the solvent, swelling agent, or glue introduced to this channel, readily flows into the capillaries formed between the filaments. Thereby the filaments are firmly bonded together. When, by way of example, the fibers are Dynel, which is a modacrylic fiber, a solvent or swelling agent such as acetone is applied in the groove of the channel between the two clamping members so that the fibers brought closely together by the pressure applied to both sides of the clamp causes the acetone to wick through the capillary voids between adjacent fibers or filaments and result in a swelling or solvent action between the adjacent filaments which cause a fusion or bonding of the filaments over the pressure applied area. There are two types of bonding that we are concerned with: (a) each fiber must be bonded to its neighbor so that in brushing and combing it cannot be separated from the group. As mentioned above, without adhesive or fiber-to-fiber bonding one must resort to complicated procedures (tying the end with a rubber band, inverting, tying again, etc.) but even then some fibers slip out. By our method each fiber is bonded to its neighbor so that it cannot come out. (b) The tape which is applied only serves to give some additional strength so that if the bonded filaments are folded along the axis of the fibers there will be less of a chance of fracture. The use of a tape which has glue on it is a convenient way of applying the tape, particularly if the glue on the tape is activated by the solvent (acetone) which is being used to bond the fibers together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

In the form of the invention shown:

FIGURE 1 is a respective view of a complemental pair of chignon, fall or the like clamp members between which the filaments to define the chignon or fall are pressed.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away and parts shown in section of one of the pair of clamps showing the tape-attaching means are applied thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the horizontal displacement station of the apparatus employed with the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the station similar to FIGURE 3, showing the position of the complemental clamping member.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the two clamping members in clamping engagement with a plurality of fibers therebetween in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the combing out station in which the fibers are arranged horizontally. In this figure the bottom clamp and the filaments are shown vertically displaced from the combing out station.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the solvent applying or bonding station of the apparatus employing the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a cross section (at position 8 on FIG- URE 6) of the solvent applying or bonding station with clamp and filament shown.

Referring more particularly to the drawings as best seen in FIGURES 1, 10 and 11 represent two complemental clamping members having bevelled edges 12. The clamping member 11 has screws 13 and 14 over which are complementally threaded wing nuts 15 and 16. The screws 13 and 14 pass through openings 17 and 18 of the clamping member 10. The clamping members 10 and 11 have lapped ridges 19 which permit segmentation of the horizontally distributed filaments for purposes of defining lines where flexing may take place to permit rolling or conformation of the horizontally distributed filaments over the skull area of the female head.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the clamping member 10 has provided at its ends a pair of friction attaching members 20, 21 which are urged into frictional engagement with the members 10 by threaded shafts 22 which permit filaments 23 to be horizontally displaced across the mem- 'ber 10 and thereafter a tape 24 is passed over the filaments to clamp the filaments rigidly against the member 10. The clamping members 22 are then secured down tight to retain the tapes 24 in proper horizontal distribution. After the filaments have been rigidly clamped between the two clamping members 10 and 11 as shown in FIGURE 5, the thus clamped members are transferred to the station of the machine shown in FIGURE 6 at the right-hand end thereof with the filaments 23 hanging down therebelow and the clamped ends 23 extend partially thereabove. The bevelled portions 12 defining a V-type channel 12 shown in FIGURE 8 receives glue solvent or swelling agent which is spread across the width of the clamping members. When, by way of example, Dynel, which is a modacrylic filament, is employed over a 6 to 10 inch width of clamp 10 and 11, cc. of solvent in the form of acetone is distributed across the area of the clamp shown at the right-hand end of FIGURE 6 so that the acetone forms a solvent action along and between the filaments of Dynel clamped between the two members and 11. The solvent which wicks between the adjacent abutting filaments or fibers causes fusion among these filaments 0r fibers. The tape 24 has been previously coated with a compatible adhesive or glue which is activated by the addition of acetone thereto.

A suitable time period is permitted for the solvent to set up and cause fusion or bonding between adjacent and abutting filaments.

Thereafter the two clamp members are separated and the chignon is removed to permit subsequent working or shaping for styling of the hair of the human female.

To facilitate conformation of the head of the human female the taped area extended between the terminal portions of the two clamping members 10 and 11 are provided with ridges or jaws 19 which permit planes of weakness and fracture to obtain against the machine-supported area to facilitate conformation with the curvature of the skull of the human female.

Heat lamps 25 are provided to promote the drying of the solvent applied between the clamps 10 and 11 as shown in FIGURE 8.

Numerous types of filaments may be employed to create falls or chignons in accordance with the present invention and the following examples are given to exist between the type of fiber employed and the type of solvent, swelling agent or glue employed to create a bond between and along abutting or adjacent filaments placed between the clamp members 10 and 11.

As best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, the method is practiced on a table 26 having a combining station 27 which is slotted at 28 to receive the clamping members 10 and 11. A comb 29 is mounted with its teeth directed upwardly to facilitate distributing the fibers of the chignon length of tow. The fibers 23 are placed over the base clamp 10, as seen in FIGURE 3, and the complemental clamp 11 is put in place as in FIGURE 4 by tightening down the wing nuts 15, 16 over shafts 13, 14.

The thus clamped fibers 23 are then moved to the bonding station 30 which is cut out to accommodate a fiber clamp support housing 31 having a slotted top 32 with a flared mouth 33 which cooperates with support members 34, 35 which have inturned 'bases 36, 37 to provide support for the clamps 10 and 11, as best seen in FIGURE 8, at the bonding station. A pair of electric lamps 25 are mounted in the housing 31 to provide the heat to (a) increase the rate of swelling of the fi'ber where a fiber-solvent or fiber-swelling agent is employed, and/or (b) rapidly evaporate the solvent.

EXAMPLES (1) Human hair where we use a diluted solution of the Angiers glue (defined hereinafter). The diluent being acetone which evaporates rapidly and which lowers the viscosity so that the adhesive rapidly wicks into the pressure area.

(2) Another example would be Dynel with acetone alone demonstrating the use of a fiber solvent which evaporates quickly.

(3) The use of ethyl acetate for cellulose acetate fibers demonstrates the use of material which is more of a fiber swelling agent than one which will actually dissolve the fiber.

(4) Xylene for polypropylene is an example where we heat the clamps to a relatively high temperature (250 F.) so that the solvent can become operable.

(5) To demonstrate the use of a solvent which does not evaporate very quickly we mention dimethyl formamide on modacrylic or acrylic fibers but in this case we must use a jet of air or fan to remove the solvent which is not between the pressure jaws 10 and 11.

When the bonding medium is in a liquid fiowable form, we have found Angiers SBC 1624, which is a butadieneacrylonitrile-polyvinylacetate thermosetting resin in a solvent base primarily consisting of methylethyl ketone with acetone additive, to be most satisfactory.

By bevelling the two clamping members 10 and 11, we form a trough or a channel 12 which results in a more convenient method of uniformly applying the adhesive or solvent. The ridges are made on the pressure portion of the clamps by undercutting sections of the metal. Actually, one can form the chignon without the ridges but as set out later in the specification, the reason for the ridges is to provide for greater flexibility of the tape. However, the height of these ridges is important and should not be excessive because we want to maintain high pressure between the clamps. If there are no ridges and if the adhesive or solvent is applied non-uniformly, excessive amounts run into the areas where there are fewer fibers while lesser amounts run in which there are more fibers. The ridges tend to give .us somewhat more uniform distribution of glue or solvent in the channel but by limiting their height the fibers are tightly compressed between the clamps, so that the fibers can be well bonded to each other.

Electric light bulbs 25 are used in the bonding station. We found that the temperature of the clamp after it has been sitting in the heater for several minutes is about F. This is pretty warm but not so uncomfortable that it cannot be handled easily.

Another important point which should be noted is the use of higher temperatures. 110 F. is the temperature we usually use with acetone. Polypropylene fiber is soluble in commercial Xylene at 250 F. Accordingly, we clamped some polypropylene between the jaws of our clamp, added some xylene and then heated the clamps by placing them in contact with an electric iron so that they reached 250 F. Under these conditions we obtained a very good bond and quite an acceptable commercial product.

We did more work using the Angiers glue with human hair and found that it worked best when We thinned it way down (1 part glue, 6 parts acetone) so that (a) it eva orated quickly, and (b) its viscosity was reduced to about 5 centipoise (measured with #1 spindle, Brookfield Viscosimeter) We have further clarified the time factor. When the bars have been left in the place where they are kept warm, they have considerable residual heat so that one can take them out, put the ribbons on, put the filaments between them, put them back into the heated slot, apply the solvent and immediately remove it without any detrimental effects with respect to the strength of the bond. However, there is still a slight acetone ordor and, if the chignon (and clamp) is left in the slot for about 5 minutes, the acetone odor disappears.

Our experiments emphasized that the solvent should evaporate very quickly when exposed to the air and if its rate of evaporation is not as rapid as, for example, that of acetone, then some external means such as a fan should be used to increase the rate of evaporation. When the fiber solvent is poured into the clamp the solvent not only wicks into the pressure area between the jaws of the clamp but it also wicks up between the fibers and down on the bottom side of the pressure clamp. If the solvent does not evaporate very rapidly when it is in contact with the air outside of the jaws then it starts dissolving the fiber and results in uneven and unsightly fusion of the fibers above and below the pressure area.

Another experiment clearly demonstrated that those materials which do not completely dissolve a fiber but do swell the fiber works quite well. For example, cellulose acetate fiber dissolves readily in acetone but only swells and gets somewhat gelatinous in ethyl acetate. Nevertheless both of these materials serve very well in making a chignon with cellulose acetate fibers.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of preparing chignons, falls and the like comprising the steps of:

(a) distributing a plurality of fibers in a substantially flat plane having transverse terminal ends,

(b) applying pressure between convergent clamping members along a defined area between the transverse terminal ends to the axis of the fibers, and

(c) applying a bonding medium in liquid fiowable form along an edge of the pressure area in a temperature zone to promote bonding among adjacent fibers and along the fibers in the pressure applied area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fibers are synthetic and the bonding medium contains a liquid which is a swelling agent for the particular fiber employed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber are human hair or man-made fibers and the bonding medium contains a liquid which is a solvent for the fiber employed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fibers are human hair or man-made protein fibers and the bonding medium contains an adhesive or glue.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,159 11/1921 Bowers 15683 1,450,259 4/1923 Nessler 1325 XR 2,343,975 3/ 1944 Hosfield. 3,162,203 12/1964 Cramer 132-5 3,361,589 11/1968 Lindsey l56-308 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

